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20 | February/March - 2017 | 21
R&D | POTATO PROCESSING |
There is much debate about the pros and cons of genetically modified (GM) crops in Australian agriculture. In
some parts of the world, the uptake of GM plant varieties is surpassing any other agricultural technology, with
an estimated 10 per cent of the world’s arable land planted with GM crops. Potato Processors Association of
Australia Chair Peter Hardman investigates the use of GM in potatoes.
GENETICALLY MODIF IED POTATOES IN AUSTRAL IA:
A WAY OF THE FUTURE ?
Genetic modification of plants through genetic engineering
techniques aims to introduce new traits to the plants that might
render it resistant to disease and pests, environmental conditions,
herbicides and increase nutrient availability to the crops. While the
plants will have enhanced characteristics, they still require sound
agronomic practices and favourable environmental conditions to
survive and to produce superior yields.
Gene management with the plant has also been used to provide
enhanced health benefits for consumers; however in Australia
and other parts of the world, uptake has been slow due to strong
public opposition.
Many available genetically modified (GM) products have been
generated and monopolised by the private sector, which has
created products specifically for areas of high end productivity,
sophistication and intensity. Sadly, a better strategy for the use of
GM technologies would be to address growing food shortages in
third world countries. These countries produce low yielding,
large-scale crops with little access to water – and limited access
to pest and disease control products.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS
In Australia, our French fry industry is constantly under threat from
cheap imports and it’s critical that we work together to increase
efficiencies on-farm and within our factories to sustain a viable local
industry. Our cost of production is our greatest challenge compared
to global competitors, and GM technologies have the potential to
mitigate some of these costly inputs.
Genetic engineering in potatoes has been limited to date,
however they are now available in the American market. The first
of the American GM potatoes has incorporated genes from other
potato varieties which bruise less and have fewer black spots,
leading to less spoilage. Web references suggest that these
enhanced potatoes produce less asparagine, which is a precursor
to acrylamide – a likely carcinogen.
There is also work towards introducing further innovation, which
will see plants resistant to North American Late blight strains and
have enhanced cold storage capability. These plants will have a
significant impact on the volume of pesticide used, and greatly
reduce waste through spoilage during storage.
There is substantial scientific evidence and agreement that
suggests current foods derived from GM crops offer no greater risk
to human health compared to conventional food. However, despite
this volume of evidence, the Australian public remains concerned
about the safety and potential impact of GM crops.
ESTABLISHED CROPS
Cotton was the first GM crop to arrive in Australia in 1996, with
commercial varieties available in 2008. All but two per cent of cotton
crops planted in Australia are genetically modified to be tolerant to
glyphosate and have superior insecticide resistance. Cotton Australia
suggests that financial rewards for cotton farmers embracing this
technology has been about $180 per hectare.
While GM varieties of canola are available in Australia (offering
herbicide tolerance and better weed control), the uptake and
financial rewards have been mixed. With discounts for GM canola
in the marketplace, uptake has been much lower than the cotton
industry. Given the consumer pushback influencing the canola
market, how would the introduction of more efficient GM potatoes
into the Australian market fare?
In addition to canola oil, Australians are regularly consuming
foods that contain GM sourced ingredients from other countries
such as soy, potato, maize (corn) or sugar beet. All foods that
contain GM ingredients are compliant with the Australia New
Zealand Food Standards Code.
Perhaps it is just a matter of time before we see GM potatoes
grown in Australia. With the opportunity to have a locally grown
product with greater water efficiency, less wastage, less chemical
reliance and a healthier content for consumers, the future
and viability of Australian potato production might be, in part,
safeguarded by GM technologies.
For more information, please contact Anne Ramsay on 0400 368 448 or
email
This communication has been funded by Horticulture Innovation
Australia Limited using the National Potato Levy and funds from the
Australian Government.
Project Number: PT15007
INFO
A new risk criteria that will transform the performance of potato Late blight alert systems in the United Kingdom
was revealed at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Agronomists’ Conference in
December 2016. AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager for Potatoes Claire Hodge and James Hutton Institute
PhD student Siobhán Dancey provide an insight into the project.
ON HIGH ALERT: TRANSFORMING THE R I SK CR I TER IA
FOR LATE BL IGHT IN POTATOES
The United Kingdom-based Agriculture and Horticulture
Development Board (AHDB), in collaboration with partners, has
developed an online BlightWatch alert system to provide potato
growers with an indicator of Late blight risk in a given area.
According to AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager for Potatoes
Claire Hodge, the threat of Late blight is still high in the UK despite
population numbers remaining stable. If the disease is not kept
under control, it can result in widespread crop loss and can also
lead to Tuber blight, which can be difficult to control in potato stores.
“Although we currently have a stable population and good
understanding of control, Late blight remains one of the biggest
threats to UK potato production,” Ms Hodge said.
“Levels of Late blight are seasonally variable, however AHDB’s
Fight Against Blight (FAB) program involves close monitoring of
any reported Late blight outbreaks and alerts growers about
concerning weather conditions in their area which would be
conducive to blight development.
“Where outbreaks occur, they are sampled by a diligent cohort
of volunteers (known as Blight Scouts) who notify us and submit
samples to our nominated analysis centres.
“Following analysis of the samples, we then provide information
on the location, severity, crop and likely source of confirmed
blight incidents to growers and agronomists through AHDB’s
online FAB service.”
The historical data analysis revealed that the Smith Period criteria
that is currently used for alerts was not performing equally well in
all parts of the country. The experimental investigation and
modelling showed that the time period of relative humidity of
more than 90 per cent needed to be reduced to at least six hours
to provide alerts, which would provide a better indicator of the
risk of blight for more regions. This requirement will form the
Hutton Criteria and AHDB’s FAB services will use this to improve
blight alert accuracy in 2017.
“We are also working with industry to encourage the uptake of
the Hutton Criteria in other third party alerting systems that are
available to UK potato growers,” Ms Hodge said.
BENEFITS FOR AUSTRALIA
Ms Dancey said the Late blight alert project is building on a great
deal of existing research at the James Hutton Institute. She added
that the next step is to investigate the impact of solar radiation in
controlling the disease, working with one of her supervisors, Dr
Peter Skelsey.
“Solar radiation can greatly reduce spore viability and thus disease
risk. Understanding spore survival in solar radiation should aid future
spatial modelling aspects of disease movement,” she said.
The PhD student researcher added that there could be benefits
for Australian growers as a result of the research.
“Though the climatic conditions of Australia and Great Britain
vary a great deal, I think the value could come from replicating the
methods involved in this work,” Ms Dancey said.
“First, the implementation of a monitoring system of potato
Late blight outbreaks akin to AHDB’s FAB program would prove
beneficial if it does not already exist in Australia.
“The data set that has been established from AHDB’s FAB outbreak
monitoring has allowed for a deeper understanding of the pathogen
populations, enabling a great deal of future research – which would
not be possible otherwise.”
RISK ANALYSIS
To ensure growers and agronomists have access to the best risk
model possible, AHDB has funded James Hutton Institute PhD
student researcher Siobhán Dancey to re-examine blight alert
systems using historical data analysis, experimental investigation
of the criteria and modelling.
FIGURE 1
For more information, please visit or
This communication has been funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia
Limited using the Fresh Potato Levy and funds from the Australian
Government.
Project Number: PT15007
INFO
SMITH PERIOD CRITERIA HUTTON CRITERIA
Two consecutive days:
1. Each day has a minimum
temperature of 10°C
2. Each day has at least 11
hours with relative humidity ≥
90 per cent
Two consecutive days:
1. Each day has a minimum
temperature of 10°C
2. Each day has at least six
hours with relative humidity ≥
90 per cent
INTERNATIONAL R&D | LATE BLIGHT |